Exclusive: Times Union Center to get $11 million expansion?

The chances of bringing NCAA Division I basketball and wrestling tournaments back to the Times Union Center in Albany, NY would be boosted if the arena's concourse is expanded, a project that would cost $6 million to $11 million, officials said.

The expansion would provide another 20,000 square feet on the main concourse, creating enough space for news media covering the events and ancillary space needed during the popular tournaments, said Bob Belber, general manager of the Times Union Center.

The expansion would enclose the open-air, atrium-styled main entrance on South Pearl Street, giving a new look to the 23-year-old arena, but would not increase the maximum seating capacity of 17,500.

The proposed changes to the county-owned arena have been studied and talked about behind the scenes for weeks, if not months, but not detailed publicly.

There is no funding commitment at this point to pay for the expansion, but local officials have been talking to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office about the project as part of a larger, alternative plan to building a 300,000-square-foot convention center downtown.

“We’re working with the governor,” Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said. “It comes down to us giving them a plan that really works for downtown Albany.”

McCoy said he would not borrow to pay for an expansion given the county’s finances and the $70.7 million in debt, not counting the parking garage, paid by taxpayers since the arena opened in 1990.

The last debt payment on the arena will be made next year, but the parking garage won’t be paid off until 2027.

One possible funding source for the expansion: $63 million in state funds set aside to build a convention center downtown.

If a portion of that money was made available to expand the Times Union Center, the remainder could be used to pay for other elements of a scaled-down convention center on upper State Street near the Capitol, instead of on land near the Greyhound bus station that has languished for years.

The governor’s office wants a private-sector commitment to go along with any taxpayer dollars needed for the alternative site, McCoy said.

The authority’s chairman, Gavin Donohue, declined comment, but McCoy said the estimates range from $6 million to $11 million.

There is a sense of urgency to the talks with the state because the NCAA is seeking bids for 82 college athletic championships for the 2014-2015 to 2017-2018 academic years. It’s the first time in NCAA history that it is putting so many tournaments up for grabs at once.

Intentions to bid are due Aug. 9, and the full bids due Sept. 16. All of the sites will be awarded in December.

Nearly all of the NCAA sports are seeking host cities for their championships. The exceptions include Division I men’s basketball, which will be bid on next year, said Cameron Schuh, an NCAA spokesman.

The Times Union Center would likely bid on about a dozen tournaments, including women’s basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, and volleyball, Belber said.

The arena last hosted an NCAA Division 1 tournament in 2010: the men’s hockey East Regionals.

The arena has also previously hosted Division I men’s basketball and wrestling championships, each time drawing big crowds downtown and filling hotels and restaurants.

It has been a decade since the men’s basketball or wrestling championships have been held in Albany, however. NCAA officials told the arena changes must be made to get those tournaments back, including more space for the news media and another full-service hotel downtown.

Belber said expanding the concourse would also relieve congestion during sold-out concerts, and provide more room for food and beverage stands, which would increase concession sales. The space could also be leased out for weddings and other events, he said.